It's NOT dead yet!!!

I don't like accepting that something is "dead" until it really is dead.

I have been having some problems with my washing machine for the last 2 years. The water coming into the tub has been decreasing very slightly but consistantly over time. By the time we moved into this house this past December the cold water was down to a trickle. We replaced the hoses thinking perhaps there was some buildup over the years that we couldn't see.

Didn't help.

So, I resorted to drastic measures. I switched the hot and cold lines so that when our machine said "cold" it was really Hot water and vice-versa. I washed everything on Warm since that was the coldest I could possibly get the water. This "warm" setting was a very hot warm too.

I've been sitting here wondering what to do. I've been dying to have my "excuse" to buy a new washing machine. Only problem is $$. It's around $1,000 to get the one I want (a front loader) and we don't have $ for even a repair guy to come out.. let alone the $ for my "dream machine".

So.. it finally dawned on me... There is a website out there that I found many years ago when our window a/c unit died. After spending a LOT of money to get it (It was a vertical one and not a cheapie horizontal one - we had small and tall windows) I couldn't bring myself to replace it. We must fix it!!!

www.repairclinic.com

MEMORIZE that address!!!

You can buy a part for pretty much ANYTHING you have in your house that might need a part. There are also instructions for some items that help you to fix the thing. If you really get stuck you can e-mail them and they WILL respond!! We had to ask a question that the site didn't answer and the answer was intelligent and well thought out!

When I was on the site I saw the part I need (or think I need) and it was about $30ish. If I called some dude to come out and say "boo" to me it would cost about $150... then the $30 part on top of that. Got me to thinking... I would love to see what I can find.

These images were taken with my cell phone (so I could see how everything goes back together). Sorry they are so lousy.

This is the part in the back of the washer.


Here it is away from the washer... about to be attacked!



I had started cleaning out the screens when I thought... WOAH!!! I need to grab a pict of the junk.. it would go great with my blog.



This is just a shot of some of the junk I was getting out of the screens.



So.. after adding water in those inlets.. and banging it on the counter a bunch, I was able to get quite a large amount of those little metal chunks out. Those are from using the machine for 11 years in a house built in 1911. Every time we turned on the bathtub, bits of rusted metal would come out at first. I just didn't associate the junk in the tub with what could be wrong with the washing machine.

I am now... washing a load in COLD water for the first time in a couple of years!!! At some point in the near future I would love to buy a new water inlet valve. It is still not back to "normal" but it saved me a TON of $$ by doing it myself. ;-)

I was so happy at what I was able to do, and for how much non money I did it for, I had to share it with you all.

Withdrawls - again

I love reading books. I really get into the characters and enjoy the ebb and flow of the story line. I try to keep my reading to one chapter per night (gives me something to dream about). About 2/3rds of the way through a book it gets to the "good part" and I end up reading more than 1 chapter. I can't possibly go to bed with the story hanging like that.. it could give me nightmares. LOL

I just finished another of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven books (#2). I've been debating about making a late night dash to Wallyworld to pick up #3 just so I don't have to feel disconnected from my "family". Instead... I'm here, trying to waste time so I will just go to bed.

I think I'll goof around the Fablehaven website. It's AMAZING!!!!

www.fablehaven.com

Tomorrow.... Book #3.... is MINE!!!!!

(When are the school book order forms coming out? The have really good deals on books. I need to get my fix somewhere).

We survived!!!

Well, the first day of school has now passed. I remember being sooo anxious and scared about this day when I was a kid. My kids, thankfully, seem to have not inherited this overwhelming fear. They jump in with both feet excited to see where life takes them.

They went on about their teachers (they went to music class today), the different kids in their class as well as on the playground. They had not a negative thing to say. Their eyes sparkled as they talked about the day's events.

Only one thing became a speed bump in their day.... everyone "lost" their brand new lunch boxes. One found hers in the lost and found box. The other two found theirs in their class rooms. After several laps around the school we were finally ready to head for home.

Every day will get smoother and faster. I hate these first few days where we're getting our groove on. I wish things just worked perfect from day one. (I know that's unrealistic). When trying to figure out where to drop off and pick up my kids I keep winter in mind. When there are 3' - 4' mounds of snow piled up, am I in the best place to wait? As everyone else settles into their groove... it will be easier for me to get us into ours.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch... Our youngest has never been "alone" all day. Last year, her brother was only going to school for 1/2 day. She really didn't notice him missing because his school time hit about the time she wanted to take a nap. This year.. boy! All day she asked for each of her siblings. She just doesn't understand where everyone went and why she can't go there too. I've never had just one kid at home either. It's a different experience.

Tribute to my husband and what he does everyday

OK... Over the years I have often been asked.. "What does your husband do for a living?" Most of the time I say "A little of everything". Well.. here is a photo walk down a SMALL portion of what he does.

I just HAD to buy this shirt for him when I saw it. (I even took it off the mannequin in the store.) It is SOOOOO TRUE!!!!



The next 3 picts are from the same shoot. He use to be an Art Director and he built this set on the front porch of our house during a very rainy night. The last of the 3 includes our twins when they were very young.







The next few are from Ren Fests we've worked on. I sewed the costumes for the guys and the horses in the jousting pict. (Sad note: A couple of months after this pict was taken, the girl with the blue bandanna on her head was kicked by one of those horses and died from the injuries).





Another of his many jobs is doing 2D/3D animation. This is one of the things necessary to make his composites later. Check out the image in the sphere.



These are from a more recent shoot in Southern Utah. He's more of a grip on this shoot.





Typically..... THIS is what he looks like. He does a LOT of editing which is less exciting.



So there you have it. I've barely skimmed the surface of what he does for a living. Over the years I have really gotten to know what the back of his head looks like backlit by the glow of several monitors. Every now and then he'll turn around and I'll get butterflies like when you meet someone cute for the first time. I forget what he looks like and it's like "Woah! Who are you? You're cute!"

I don't have a pict uploaded but the most typical pose I see these days (when not of the back of his head) is of him crashed somewhere. I've never known anyone to be able to make a "bed" anywhere as quickly as he does. He's used a rock for a pillow in the past when desperate. He's learned to sleep hard and quick when working on these long projects (18 - 24 hour days).

Honey! I love ya!

Sorry I've been remiss

Ok... I feel I've abandoned my loyal viewers. (all 1 or 2 of you). I promise I have a bunch to update. We've had birthdays and I have new cake designs to share. With school starting next week I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off (I've seen it.. they really do run around). I'm not ready!!!! Can someone please inform the school that I need another week. Thanks.



I am soo behind on watching movies. We go in binges renting a bunch for a while then we go without for a long time. We have a steady "payment plan" with a local video rental place. Rent 3 movies in a month and we've broke even. If we rent any more than that (and don't have late fees) then we're saving some $$. I have a new favorite that I need to add to my list. It's Jumper with Hayden Christensen and Samuel Jackson (that man gets around!).






I like the flick because it TOTALLY matches a dream I've had for many years. The ability to see a place or think of a place and just *poof* you're there. Every time I find myself driving a long way (like to visit my parents in Arizona) I will see an open spot in traffic WAAAYY ahead. I think "Man! I wish I could just pop myself up in that spot and shave off a few minutes". I would then watch the clock and see just how long it took me to drive that distance. 2 min. 5 min. 7 min. Whatever.. I always wished I could just poof my way ahead through the boring parts so I could spend more time at my final destination. Of course the movie is made by Hollywood and has a "standard" to maintain. It is PG-13 for a reason.

I just LOVE the idea of thinking of a place and being there. Poof, I'm at the grocery store (which I hate)... Poof, I'm home with the load of groceries. I didn't have to almost get hit by the young college student in a hurry to show off for his friends.. I didn't have to sit behind the car with a couple who really should either get married or get a room. I wouldn't have to worry if the van will start this time or not.

*POOF*